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Question of the Day: If you could meet anyone from the past, who would you meet?
The Host and Co-Host are wearing lab coats. The Co-Host is lying on the stage floor as the Host enters.
Host
Hey (Co-Host)! Wait, why are you on the floor?
Co-Host
I’m playing dead.
Host
Why?
Co-Host
I ate one of Pastor (Pastor’s name) favorite brownies.
Host
I’m sure he/she won’t mind sharing one.
Co-Host
By one I mean all of them. Oops. I’m playing dead so I trick him/her when he/she comes around to find me. He/She will just see me lying here and move along. It’s fool proof.
Host
I don’t think he/she will fall for it, but did you know that some animals actually do play dead as a way to fake out other animals? I’m going to show you guys some animals, and you have to decide which one plays dead by holding up one arm or two arms to guess.
Optional, play game music. Show the slides and have the kids guess the right answer, then reveal the correct one.
Co-Host
Wow, I didn’t know so many animals had stolen my idea. I’m thinking maybe I’ll just go bake him/her some new brownies.
Host
That’s a good idea. Before we check in on our friends at the lab, ask someone nearby which of those animals was the most surprising.
This object lesson uses magic sand, which is technically hydrophobic sand. You can purchase this sand online from retailers such as Steve Spangler Science. Hydrophobic sand can also be made at home. Purchase regular sand of the same color for the presentation.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
That was not a nice prank to play on Sophia.
Host
They’re going to be in big trouble when Herman finds out. The worst part is that they know better. Has there been a time when someone did something wrong to you, and you know that person realized it was wrong? How did that make you feel that they did it anyway?
Interview some kids.
Co-Host
There’s someone who can help us change the way we think, talk, and live. We’re not talking about changing in a small way; this is big life change.
Host
Let’s check out what Jesus said about Himself in today’s Big Point. I need a volunteer to help us reveal it.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Co-Host
Shout it out as we count down from three and then read the Big Point.
Host
Let’s all say it together, Jesus Is The Resurrection And The Life!
Co-Host
Jesus has the power to give us new life. Does that mean He can change the way we look?
Host
No, in this life followers of Jesus will still look the same way. Nothing on the outside changes. However, what does change is the stuff on the inside. Jesus gives us a new heart. He changes the way we think and connect with God. Our spirit is like a new creation.
Co-Host
That allows us to be different people, even if the outside part still looks like the same us.
Host
Right. Let me show you what I mean with an experiment. I have a friend who is going to help me. I have some sand, and I want my friend to dump it into the water.
Have the child dump the regular sand into the water and try to pick it back up.
Co-Host
It’s wet and clumpy.
Host
Now dump this sand into the water. It’s called hydrophobic sand. It’s been treated with a chemical that helps it repel water. It looks the same as that sand but watch what happens.
Have the child dump the magic sand in the water and pick it back up.
Co-Host
It’s dry. Try that again. (Have the child drop the sand in the water and pick it up) It’s still dry. It’s the same sand, but it acts so different.
Host
We may look the same, but when we become followers of Jesus, He puts His life in us. That changes everything about who we are. Let’s hope that Rusty and Alex make different choices.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Rusty and Alex seem to think that changing their clothes and listening to new music is all they need to make new choices.
Co-Host
We’ve learned that true change begins in our hearts when we say, “Yes” to following Jesus. He transforms us so we can live a new life. Our Big Point is true,
Co-Host
Jesus Is The Resurrection And The Life!
Host
Let’s choose an assistant to help us reveal where Jesus spoke that truth in the Bible.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Co-Host
Help us count down from three, and then we’ll read the Big Verse.
Co-Host
John 11:25 (NIrV) says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even if they die.”
Host
Has anyone ever heard the word resurrection before? It means to come back to life. A resurrected person’s body actually gets up, moves, and lives on.
Co-Host
Jesus is the One who gives us life to live now and life to live forever. The change Jesus makes in us is a lasting change.
Host
When I was a kid, there was an old monster movie called “Frankenstein.” It was about a doctor who thought he could bring someone back. Let’s do a little experiment to see if we can make a lifeless glove come to life.
Choose a volunteer to assist.
Co-Host
It’s a simple experiment. We have a glove with baking soda dumped inside. I need my assistant to pour this vinegar into the drinking glass. (Allow the kid to pour in the vinegar) Now I need your help to turn the glove over and seal the glove over the top of the jar.
Turn the glove over the jar and pull it down to create a seal. Pull the fingers of the glove up so that all of the baking soda in the fingers fall into the jar. The glove should “come alive” as the baking soda reacts with the acid.
Host
That’s an experiment you can try at home. This glove may seem alive, but it’s not. It’s just a regular rubber glove. In that old movie, the mad scientist couldn’t really make a person come back to life either. Nope, only Jesus can give us real life, and it’s a life that goes on forever and ever.
Co-Host
Because of Jesus we can live differently now and forever. One day we’ll get a new body, just like Jesus, and get to live with Him forever. That’s a great reason to stand and celebrate with worship.
If you want to have that new life, then today is your day! I’d like everyone to close your eyes and bow your heads, so no one is distracted. If you have already said, “Yes” to Jesus, I want you to give me a thumbs up. That’s awesome. You can put your hands down. If you’ve never said, “Yes” to Jesus before, and you want to say, “Yes” to Him right now and ask Him to forgive you, raise your hand. We’re going to pray altogether. Those of you who are already friends and followers of Jesus can join in, too. Repeat after me, and let’s pray...
Dear God, I know everyone needs a Savior, and I know I can’t save myself. Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and God raised You from the dead.
Right now, I say You are my Lord, my Savior, and the One who forgives me. Thank You, Jesus, that You are my best friend, because I’ve said, “Yes” to You. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer for the very first time today, you can join a special small group just for kids who said, “Yes,” for the first time later in the service. Look for the special sign as we move into small groups at the end of service.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Rusty and Alex learned a valuable lesson about following Jesus. The true change that Jesus brings is on the inside.
Co-Host
When we believe in Jesus, He gives us new life. Our Big Point is true,
Co-Host
Jesus Is The Resurrection And The Life!
Host
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, it gave everyone hope that Jesus will do the same for us. First, He gives each one of us new life on the inside, in our spirit.
Co-Host
In the future Jesus will bring all of His followers back to life. We’ll have a brand new, perfect body.
Host
Lazarus’ story reminds me of this week’s Big Do.
Host
Using a roll of toilet paper, see how fast you can wrap up someone in your family like a mummy. Then see how fast you can take it off. Take time to talk about how Jesus brought Lazarus back to life.
Co-Host
We can play that game today. We have two teams of kids who will compete to see who can wrap one of their teammates the fastest. To win they have to completely cover their friend. On your mark, get set, go!
Optional, play game music. Play the game and declare a winner.
Co-Host
I bet Lazarus was pretty excited to get those grave clothes off and get back to living.
Host
Because of Jesus we can all live forever. Let’s turn and connect with our small groups and talk about what we’ve learned from the Bible.
Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following.
Why did changing their shirts and music not change Rusty and Alex’s behavior?
What would you have thought when Jesus asked to have Lazarus’ tomb opened? How does Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead give us hope for what Jesus can do for us?
What are some ways that Jesus can help us live differently?
What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? wrap up someone in your family like a mummy
Choose two kids from the audience to come on stage and answer the question.
Our Big Point says Jesus Is The Resurrection And The _______!
Death
Life
How long had Lazarus been dead when Jesus came to the tomb?
4 Hours
4 Days
What did Jesus do when He reached the tomb?
Laughed
Cried
What did Rusty and Alex use to change their behavior?
Christian T-Shirts
Prayer
When Jesus shouted “Lazarus, come out!” nothing happened.
True
False
John 11:25 (NIrV), “I am the resurrection and the life. ________ who believes in Me will live, even if they die.”
A few people
Anyone
Is Jesus’ power only for the future, or is it for now, too?
Only for the future
Now and the future
What will happen to Jesus’ followers in the future?
They will stay dead
Their bodies will come back to life
Jesus can help us say, “No” to any temptation.
True
False
What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? wrap someone in your family up like a mummy
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